Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-13

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

There is no denying the fact that the extinction of specific types of plants and animals is a huge environmental issue. While it is commonly held believe by many people that this is the major problem of the environment, There is also an argument that opposes it. From my perspective, although both views carry merit, I think that there are more important drawbacks to consider, such as the increased pollution rate and the wide use of pesticides.

To begin with, ecosystems highly depend on many species to servive. In other words, loosing certain species can negatively affect the environment because their extinction would be irreversable. For instance, loss of pollinators, such as bees, can threaten food crops. Moreover, losing some types of plants can indirectly threaten the medical industry because many medications originally come from plants.

On the other hand, I believe that there are more serious issues to consider. The wide use of pesticides can indeed affect crops and animals, but they also carry serious negative effects to people's health. For this reason, many individuals invest in organic crops, which can be stressful because they are slightly difficult to find and more expensive, and for large families, it can be difficult to afford. Furthermore, many types of pollution, such as water and air pollutions carry more serios damage than the extinction issue. For example, air pollution is detrimental to individuals because it can lead to dangerous respiratory proplems such as asthma.

In conclusion, despite people having different views, I believe that the wide use of pesticides and the environmental pollution can directly harm the environments and can lead to serious health problems to individuals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both views and state a consistent opinion: species loss matters, but pollution and pesticide use are more serious concerns. The examples about bees threatening crops and plants contributing to medicines support the first view, while respiratory illness illustrates the effects of air pollution. This gives the response a relevant, clear foundation. However, the two sides are not developed equally: the discussion of species loss is brief, and the case for pesticides focuses mainly on the cost and availability of organic food rather than explaining the wider environmental consequences of pesticide use. To strengthen the response, explain how pesticides affect ecosystems or human exposure, and compare the scale or reach of these problems with species loss. That fuller development would make the argument more convincing and complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction presents your position, separate body paragraphs discuss the two views, and the conclusion restates your opinion. Signposting such as “To begin with,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the progression. The ideas within paragraphs are generally relevant, and examples are placed near the claims they support. Some connections, however, feel mechanical or are not fully explained. For example, the move from pesticide effects to the expense of organic food does not clearly show how that point supports the environmental argument. The conclusion also repeats the main position without drawing together the comparison. Use more explicit cause-and-effect links and develop transitions between related claims to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “extinction,” “ecosystems,” “pollinators,” “pesticides,” and “respiratory problems.” These choices make the subject clear, and phrases such as “detrimental to individuals” show an attempt to use more formal language. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, however: “the major problem of the environment,” “increased pollution rate,” and “carry more serious damage” do not sound natural in this context. There are also spelling errors, including “servive,” “loosing,” “irreversable,” and “serios.” These do not prevent understanding, but they reduce precision. Check spelling carefully and learn common environmental collocations, such as “environmental degradation” and “cause serious harm.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a concession in “although both views carry merit” and a relative clause in “which can be stressful.” Most sentences communicate their main meaning, and the paragraph structure helps readers interpret them. Some grammatical errors remain. For example, “it is commonly held believe” has an incorrect construction; “ecosystems highly depend” needs a clearer grammatical pattern; and “many types of pollution … carry” has a subject–verb agreement problem. Capitalisation is also inconsistent in “There is also an argument” after a comma. Review verb agreement, clause construction, and punctuation, then proofread each sentence. More consistently accurate complex sentences would improve control while preserving the range you already attempt.

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